It’s easy to see how the Santa Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides niger) got its name. Have you ever seen a creature with such abyssal coloration? These pieces of living obsidian are endemic to the Santa Cruz Mountains along the coast of central California. Despite the high amount of human development in this small mountain range,…
The Species That Spook Us: Ogre-faced, Net-casting Spider
The ogre-faced, net-casting spider (Deinopis spinosa) has a terrifying name and what has been described as a “circadian Jekyll and Hyde” lifestyle [1]. They hide during the day, appearing as mere deformities in their home palm trees. As night rolls around, they become fierce predators. Unlike many spiders that build large webs and prey on…
The Species That Spook Us: House Centipede
Too many legs. It’s just got too many legs. The house centipede – a collection of long, bushy limbs on a striped brown body – is scampering across my floor with a velocity and visage that makes my neck hair stand on end. My eyes dart to the closest object to me – the biology…
Creature Feature Miniseries: The Species That Spook Us
Mini-feature 1: American Crow As night approaches and the sky grows dim, an eerie feeling always creeps over unsuspecting passersby. From the treeline they’re being watched by dozens of eyes, illuminated by the dim glow of street lamps. Draw too near and they’re sent into a frenzy and hundreds of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) escape…
Sunday Sketch: Halloween Edition: The Ghostly Coyote
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are found throughout North America and are often regarded as dangerous pests due to their tendency to kill livestock and other domestic animals. They are territorial and can have complex family dynamics, with older siblings occasionally staying with their parents to help raise younger offspring. Art and fact by Isabel Kier, Instagram…
Sunday Sketch: The Delightfully Voracious Dragonfly
In their larval stage, dragonflies are voracious carnivores, consuming anything in their aquatic environment, including their siblings, fish, other insect larvae, and tadpoles. Adult dragonflies have wings and are capable of flying up and down, as well as hovering. They need to fly to catch prey, as they cannot eat if they remain stationary. Additionally,…
Field Frame Friday: A (rock) boring life
The purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) is a conspicuous native of rocky intertidal habitats along the western coast of North America. These spiky animals live in rock pits, which are safe havens from the pounding surf and scorching sun. Unlike their hermit crab neighbors, purple sea urchins build their homes themselves by boring holes into…
Throwback Creature Feature: Hawk moth
This costumed creature is ready for Halloween.
Sunday Sketch: Mean Girls Flamingos Edition
Like humans, flamingos are social, and their social behavior can contribute to a longer lifespan. They choose their friends, and gain support from their friend group to handle conflicts with rivals. Art & reference by Karli Chudeau & fact written by Nicole Rodrigues [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Schalit, N. (2023, March 8). How we…
Field Frame Friday: Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus) are large, widespread raptors which largely hunt at night. They can begin nesting as early as the winter season, and they often make use of old nests made by other large birds when they do. Photo and caption by Cassidy Cooper Edited by Jessica Schaefer
theethogram.com 